Visual Indication of Fault Status, Storage and Clearance in an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

• US 20100085206A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Restrepo, Carlos, Nayak, Amit, McCoy, Brian Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.450
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/33 using summation current transformers H02H3/347 takes precedence

Abstract

An arc fault detector includes a means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time. The arc fault detector also includes at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time. Means for initiating a tripping mechanism is activated after the elapsed time. When a fault occurs, means for generating at least one fault code is activated. The fault code is stored in at least one non-volatile memory. The fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code. The arc fault detector includes at least one means to display the fault code such as at least one LED. At least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code and at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code. At least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.

Claims

1. An arc fault detector, comprising:

(a) means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time;

(b) at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time;

(c) means for initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based on at least one input from said at least one means to perform the arc detection; and

(d) means for generating at least one fault code; and

(e) at least one non-volatile memory for storing said fault code.

2. The arc fault detector of claim 1, wherein said fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code.

3. The arc fault detector of claim 1, wherein said arc fault detector has at least one means to display said fault code.

4. The arc fault detector of claim 3, wherein said at least one means for displaying said fault code is at least one LED.

5. The arc fault detector of claim 4, wherein at least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code.

6. The arc fault detector of claim 5, wherein at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code.

7. The arc fault detector of claim 6, wherein at least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.

8. An arc fault detector, comprising:

(a) means for repeatedly measuring elapsed time;

(b) at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time;

(d) means for initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based on at least one input from said arc detection performance; and

(e) means for generating at least one fault code;

(f) at least one non-volatile memory for storing said fault code; and

(g) at least one means for displaying said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory after a first period of time.

9. The arc fault detector of claim 8, wherein said at least one means for displaying said fault code is at least one LED.

10. The arc fault detector of claim 8, wherein said first period of time is at least 40 ms.

11. The arc fault detector of claim 8, wherein said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory is displayed via said at least one means for displaying said fault code for at least a second period of time.

12. The arc fault detector of claim 11 wherein said at least second period of time is at least 5 seconds.

13. An arc fault detector, comprising:

(a) means for measuring repeatedly elapsed time;

(b) at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time;

(c) means for initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based on at least one input from said at least one means for performing arc detection; and

(d) means for generating a fault code;

(e) at least one non-volatile memory for storing said fault code;

(f) at least one means to determine a third period of time when the fault code stored in the at least one non-volatile memory is to be cleared; and

(g) at least one means to determine that a push-to-test activator has been actuated for at least a fourth period of time; and

(h) at least one means to clear said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory; and

(i) at least one means to display said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory.

14. The arc fault detector of claim 13, wherein said fourth period of time is at least 20 ms.

15. The arc fault detector of claim 14, wherein said memory hold time value is at least 40 ms.

16. The arc fault detector of claim 13, wherein said means for displaying said fault code is a single indicator that displays an arc fault, and a dual indicator that displays a ground fault.

17. The arc fault detector of claim 16, wherein said means for displaying said fault code is at least one indicator activated at a single frequency to indicate that said arc fault detector has failed.

18. A method for detecting electrical faults comprising:

(a) repeatedly measuring an elapsed time;

(b) detecting at least one electrical fault at each repeated elapsed time;

(c) initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based on detecting at least one electrical fault; and

(d) generating at least one fault code upon detecting at least one electrical fault; and

(e) storing said fault code in at least one non-volatile memory.

19. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 18, wherein said fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code.

20. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 18, further comprising displaying visually said fault code.

21. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 20, wherein displaying visually said fault code comprises activating at least one LED.

22. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 18, wherein displaying visually said fault code comprises activating at least a first LED to indicate an arc fault interrupt code.

23. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 22, wherein displaying visually said fault code comprises activating at least a second LED to indicate a ground fault interrupt code.

24. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 18, wherein displaying visually said fault code comprises activating at least a third LED to indicate a push-to-test interrupt code.

25. A method for detecting electrical faults, comprising:

(a) repeatedly measuring elapsed time;

(b) performing electrical fault detection at each repeated elapsed time;

(d) initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based performing electrical fault detection; and

(e) generating at least one fault code upon detecting at least one electrical fault;

(f) storing said fault code at least one non-volatile memory; and

(g) displaying said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory after a first period of time.

26. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 25, wherein displaying said fault code is activating at least one LED.

27. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 25, wherein said first period of time is at least 40 ms.

28. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 25, wherein displaying said fault code comprises activating a display for at least a second period of time.

29. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 28, wherein said at least second period of time is at least 5 seconds.

30. A method for detecting electrical faults, comprising:

(a) measuring repeatedly elapsed time;

(b) performing electrical fault detection at each repeated elapsed time;

(c) initiating a tripping mechanism, if tripping requirements are met based performing electrical fault detection; and

(d) generating at fault code upon detecting a fault;

(e) storing said fault code in at least one non-volatile memory;

(f) determining a third period of time when the fault code stored in the at least one non-volatile memory is to be cleared; and

(g) determining that a push-to-test activator has been actuated for at least a fourth period of time; and

(h) clearing said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory; and

(i) displaying said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory.

31. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 30, wherein said fourth period of time is at least 20 ms.

32. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 30, further comprising determining if said third period of time is greater than a memory hold time value;

and then clearing said fault code stored in said at least one non-volatile memory.

33. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 32, wherein the memory hold time value is at least 40 ms.

34. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 30, wherein displaying said fault code comprises activating a single indicator that displays an arc fault, and activating a dual indicator that displays a ground fault.

35. The method for detecting electrical faults of claim 34, wherein displaying said fault code comprises activating at least one indicator at a single frequency to indicate that means for detecting electrical faults has failed.